Thiamori



United States Patent d 2,755,278 rninnonrnomnus AND THEIR rnsrnmriort Moses Wolf Goldberg, Upper Mon'tcl'aii' "and Harms Hanina Lehr, Montcl'air, N, L, assignors to-Holfmami- La Roche Inc., Nutley, N:. J.,- a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing. Application April 7, 1954', Serial No. 421,680

7 Claims. Cl. 260-243 This invention relates to novel organic compounds, identified herein as substituted 3-tliiamorpliolone compounds, More particularly, it relates to substimted 3-thiamorpholones wherein each substituent is selected from the class consisting of lower a'llt yl radicals, at least one lower alkyl radical being attached to thethianiorpholone nucleus in the 2-position. The compounds of th'e invention can be represented by the following general formula wherein R1 represents a" lower alkyl radical, and each of R2 to R7, inclusive, represents a member selected from the group consisting of hyd rogen and lower alkyl radicals.

It will be understood that' the specific-values assumed by each ofthe variables R1 to R 1, inclusive, iii individual compounds comprehended within the above general formula, need not be identical.

The compounds of the above Formula I are useful in therapeutics; more particularly, they are useful'because of their depressant effect upon the central nervous 's'ystem, e. g. they are sedative and hypnotic compounds;

The invention further relatesto novel processes of making the above defined compounds. 7

One process comprises condensing ethylene imine (or ethylene imine substituted by one or more lower alkyl radicals, which need notbe'identic'al), Formula-II below; with an ester of an a-mercapto-alkanoic acid; Formula III- below. This process of the" invention can: be repre' sented in graphic general terms by'the following equation:

2,755,278 Patented July 17, 1956 2 group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl radicals, and these need not be identical.

The intermediateamino-sulfide ester, Formula IV, need not be isolated. The condensation can be cifected merely by mixing the reactants under cooling, to keep the exothermic reaction under control. In somecas'es, it is necessary to complete the cyclization' of the" intermediateamino-suifide ester, Formula IV,. by heating the reaction mixture;

Ana'lternative'process comprises the condensation of an alkali nie'tal'salt' of a .p-mercapto-alkyl amine, Formula V below, with an ester of an a-halo-alkanoic acid, Formula VI below; This process can be represented in graphic general terms by thefollowin'g equation:

In theequatien designated" (-B).,-R1 to R8,- in lusive, have the same" meaning previously indicated, and M represents an alkali metal. I, I v

The condensation can conveniently be enacted by heating' the reactants (V) and (VI) in an inert or anic solvent.

Still another alternative process of preparation, of less eneral application, comprises condensing an ester of a ,nitroalkanol', Formula VI'I below, with an ester of an d mIC3pT0 alkal10lC acid, Formula III above, to" form a nitro su'lfide ester, Formula VIII below; and subiecting the" latter to reductive condensation. This'pro'cess can be illustrated in'graphic general terms as follows:

Inthe above'E'quation' C, R1, R2 and R to-Rs, inclusive, havethe same meaning indicated above, and R9 represents a lower alkyl radical;

The preparation of (VIII) can be efi'ected by treating the reactants (VII) and (III), dissolved in an inert erganic solvent, with a lower alkoxide of an alkali metal, e. g. by treating (VII) and (III) in methanol with sodium methoxide. The conversion of (VIII) to (la) can be effected by reduction, e. g. by treating (VIII) withiron and glacialacetic acid,

The esters of a-mercapto-a-lkanoic acids, Formula III above,.can be prepared from the corresponding a-bromo acids'by reaction thereof with potassium ethyl xanthate and'sapon'i'fication of" the resulting a-thionocarbethoxymercapto acids with ammonia to form the corresponding a-mcrcapto-alkanoic acids, which can then be esterified by conventional procedures. The preparation of ethyl a-mercapto-a,a-diethylacctate is described below as being illustrative of the method:

To a mixture of 97 g. of a-bromo-a,-diethylacetic acid and 250 cc. of water was added 180 g. of potassium ethyl xanthate. The turbid yellow solution was allowed to stand at room temperature for two days. The mixture was extracted twice with 100 cc. portions of ether and the ether extract discarded. 100 cc. of cone. HCl was then added and the separated oil extracted with three portions of 200 cc. of ether. The combined ether extracts were dried over sodium sulfate. After removal of the ether in vacuo, a yellow oily residue was obtained which crystallized partly on chilling. The crystals were collected and washed with petroleum ether. A sample of a-(thionocarbethoxymercapto)-e,e-diethylacetic acid thus obtained was recrystallized from ethanol-water. M. P. 114-116".

Seventy-one g. of a-(thionocarbethoxymercapto)-a,adiethylacetic acid was dissolved in 400 cc. of cone. aqueous ammonia and the solution allowed to stand at room temperature for three days. The reaction mixture was extracted 3 times with 200 cc. portions of ether to remove the xanthogenamide formed. The aqueous layer was cooled with ice-water and acidified in a nitrogen-atmosphere with cone. HCl. a-Mercapto-a,a-diethylacetic acid deposited as an oil, which was taken up in ether. The ether solution was dried over sodium sulfate. After removal of the ether, the residue was fractionated in vacuo. a-Mercapto-a,a-diethylacetic acid distilled at 122- T125/ 14 mm. as a colorless viscous oil, solidifying slowly to long white needles melting at -37.

Thirty-six g. of a-mercapto-a,a-diethylacetic acid was dissolved in 150 cc. of ethanol. 15 cc. of cone. H2804 was added and the mixture refluxed under nitrogen for 18 hours. About half of the ethanol was then distilled 0t? and the remaining concentrate was neutralized with aqueous sodium carbonate. The ester separated as an oil and was extracted with ether. The ether extract was dried over sodium sulfate. After removal of the ether, the residue was fractionated in vacuo. Ethyl a-mercapto-a.adiethylacetate boils at 80-82/12 mm.

By a similar procedure, the following esters of a-mercapto-alkanoic acids were prepared:

Ethyl a-mercapto propionate, B. P. 54-55/13 mm. Ethyl a-mercapto-n-butyrate, B. P. 5456/ 8 mm. Ethyl a-mercaptoisobutyrate, B. P. 49-51/14 mm. Ethyl a-mercapto-n-valerate, B. P. 82/ 15 mm.

The following examples are illustrative, but not limitative, of the invention. All temperatures are corrected and are stated in degrees centigrade, as also are the temperatures stated in the preceding portion of the description.

EXAMPLE 1 2-methyl-3-thiamorpholone EXAMPLE 2 2,2-dimethyl-3-thiamorpholone Fourteen g. of ethyl a-mercaptoisobutyrate was mixed under cooling with 5.2 g. of ethylene imine. The mixture was kept for 2 hours at 60 and for 3 days at room temperature. ether and filtered. After recrystallization from ligroin The solid residue was treated with petroleum for 2 days.

4 (60-90), the white crystals of 2,2-dimethyl-3-thiamorpholone melted at 107-108.

EXAMPLE 3 2-elhyl-3-thiam0rpholone 2,2-diethyl-3-thiamorpholone Seventy-six g. of ethyl a-mercapto-a,-dietl1ylacetate were mixed under cooling with 23 g. of ethylene imine, care being taken that the temperature did not exceed 65. The mixture was then kept for 2 hours at 60 and for 4 days at room temperature. Fractional distillation in vacuo yielded ethyl a-(p-aminomethylmercapto)-e,e-diethylacetate, as a colorless liquid boiling at 115-130/ 0.8 mm. The hydrochloride, after recrystallization from ether-petroleum ether, melted at 73-75.

Seventy-six g. of the free amino ester was heated in an oil bath to 200 for 6 hours. Fractional distillation in vacuo yielded some unreacted amino ester (B. P. 118- 138/0.7 mm.) and a viscous liquid, which distilled at 138-150/0.7 mm., and solidified on cooling to white crystals. They were washed with pentane and filtered. After recrystallization from pentane, the 2,2-diethyl-3- thiamorpholone thus obtained melted at 52-54".

EXAMPLE 5 2-pr0pyl-3-thiam0rph0l0ne Twenty-one g. of ethyl a-mercaptovalerate and 6.5 g. of ethylene imine were mixed under cooling. The mixture was kept for 2 hours at 60 and for 3 days at room temperature. Distillation in vacuo yielded a fraction boiling at l-l53/0.9 mm.. which was rcdistilled. The fraction boiling at l36-140/0.7 mm. crystallized on cooling. After recrystallization from petroleum ether, the 2-propyl- 3-thiamorpholone melted at -52.

EXAMPLE 6 2,5 -dimethyl-3-thiam0rph0l0ne Twenty g. of ethyl a-mercaptopropionate were mixed under cooling with 10.2 g. of 2-methyl-ethylene imine. The mixture was kept for 2 hours at and for 3 days at room temperature. The partly solidified reaction mixture was dissolved in hot ligroin (B. P. 60-90). On cooling, crystals deposited, which were collected and dried in vacuo. Recrystallization from ligroin (B. P. 60-90") gave white crystals of 2,5-dimethyl-3-thiamorpholone which melted at 93-95 EXAMPLE 7 2,2,5 -trimethyl-3-th iamorpholone Twenty g. of ethyl a-mercapto-isobutyrate were mixed under cooling with 9.3 g. of 2-methyl-ethylene imine. The mixture was kept at 60 for 2 hours and at room temperature for 3 days. The partly solidified reaction mixture was diluted with petroleum ether and the crystals filtered ofi. After recrystallization from ligroin (B. P. (SO-), the white crystals of 2,2,5-trimethyl-3-thiamorpholone melted at 127-128.

EXAMPLE 8 2,5,S-trimethyl-S-thiamorpholone Nineteen g. of ethyl a-mercaptopropionate were mixed under cooling with 12.5 g. of 2,2-dimethyl-ethylene imine. The mixture was kept at 60' for 2 hours and at room temperature for 3 days. The reaction mixture was fraca /ewes tionated in vacuo. The fraction boiling at 88404705 mm. was coll'ected and heated in anoilbath at 180 -2-00' for 7 hours. On cooling,'all solidified. The crystals-were treated with ligroin (B. P. 6090) and filtered. After recrystallization'from ligroin, the white crystals o'f'2,'5,5- trime'thyl-3-thiamorpholonemelted at 13-7 139.

EXAMPLE 9 2,2,5,5tetramethyl-3-:thiamarp hvlone Twenty g. of ethyl u-mercaptoisobutyrate were mixed under cooling with 12 g. of 2,2-dimethylethylene imine. The mixture was kept at 60 for 2 hours and at room temperature for 3 days. Fractional distillation yielded 23 g. of a liquid boiling at l123/ 3 mm., which after heating for '7 hours at 180-200 solidified in the cold. After'recrystallizationfrom ethanol, the white crystals of 2,2;5,'5-t'etramethyl 3 thiamorpholone melted at 172-'174.

EXAMPLE 10 2-ethyl-5-methyl-3-thiamorph0lone Twenty g. of ethyl a-mercaptobutyrate and 9.3 g. of 2-methyl-ethylene imine were mixed under cooling. The mixture was kept for 2 hours at 60 and for 13 days at room temperature. The reaction mixture was taken up in petroleum ether and the crystals filtered ofi". After recrystallization .from ligroin (B. P. .6090), the white crystals of Z-ethyl-S-methyl-3-thia1norpholone melted at 82-84".

EXAMPLE 1.1

2,2-diethyl-5methyl-3-th iamvrpholone Thirty g. of ethyl a-mercapto-a,a-diethylacetate were mixed with 12 g. of 2-.methylethylene imine under cooling. 'The mixture was kept at 60 for .2 hours and .at room temperature for 3 days. Fractional distillation yielded a liquid boiling at 115122"/ 0.6 mm. This fraction, consisting mostly of ethyl (fl-aminopropylmercapto)- diethylacetate, was heated for 6 hours at l80200. Redistillation in vacuo gave unchanged material (B. P. 113125/0.5 mm.) and a liquid, boiling at 135-138/0.5 mm., which solidified on cooling. After recrystallization of the solid from pentane, the white crystals of 2,2- diethy1-5-methyl-3-thiamorpholone thus obtained melted at 53-55.

EXAMPLE l2 2ethyl-5,5-dimethyl-3-z'hiam0rphol0ne Twenty g. of ethyl a-mercaptobutyrate was mixed under cooling with 12 g. of 2,2-dime'thylethylene "imine. The mixture was kept for 2 hours at 60 and for 3 days at room temperature. Distillation in vacuo yielded a liquid boiling at 92-100/0.5 mm., which after being heated at 180 for 7 hours solidified on cooling. Ligroin (B. P. 60-90) was added and the crystals filtered ofi. After recrystallization from ligroin (B. P. 60-90"), the white crystals of 2-ethyl-5,S-dimethyl-3-thiamorpholone melted at 114-116.

EXAMPLE 13 2,2-diethyl-5 ,5 -a' Methyl-34hiamonpholone Twenty-nine g. of ethyl u-mercapto-u,a-d'iethylacetate was mixed under cooling with 13 g. of 2,2-dimethylethylene imine. The mixture was kept for 2 hours at 60 and for 3 days at room temperature. Distillation in vacuo yielded the intermediate ethyl (,B-aminoisobutylmercapto)diethylacetate as a liquid boiling at 110125/ 0.6 mm. A sample was converted to-the hydrochloride in the usual manner. After recrystallization from acetone-petroleum other the hydrochloride of ethyl (/3-aminoisobutylmercapto)diethylacetate melted at -16917.'1.

The free amino ester was .heated for 24 hours at 180-200 and dist'ille'd in a'cuo. Some'unchan'ged amino ester was collected, and-the residue sdlidified on cooling. After recrystallization of the solid from-pentane thew-bite crystals of 2,2-diethylj-dimethyl-3tliiamorpholonethus obtained melted "at 73 75.

EXAMPLE l4 Z-propy'l-J-methyl 3-tliiamorphdlone Twenty two g. of ethyl a-mercaptovalerate was mixed undercodling with9.'5 g. of 2-rnethylethylene imine. The mixture was kept at 60 for '2 hours and at room temperature for 3 days. Petroleum ether was added to -the partly solidified reaction mixture and the first crop of crystals collected. The filtrate was fractionated in-vacuo, yielding a liquid boiling at '139-141'/0L5 mm. which solidifiedon-cooling. After recrystallization of'the combined solids from p'entane, the white-crystals of 2-p'ropyl- S-nrethyl-Hhiamorphdlone melted at 52 55".

EXAMPLE 1'5 2-pr0pyl-5,5-dimethyl-fi-thiamorpholone Twenty-two g. of ethyl a-m'ercaptovalerate was mixed with 11.6 g. of 2,2-dimethylethylene imine under cooling. The mixture was kept for 2 hours at 60 and for 3 days at room temperature. Distillation in vacuo yielded a. colorless liquid boiling at 1-12130"./O.8 mm., which was heated for 7 hours at 180-200". After cooling, petroleum ether was added to the solidified mixture and the crystals collected. Recrystallization from petroleumether yielded white crystals of 2-propyl-'5,5-dimethyl- 3 thiamorpholone melting at 91-93".

EXAMPLE l6 2-methyl-5-efhy l-3-1h'iamorpholzine Twenty g. of ethyl a-mercaptopropionate was mixed under cooling with 13 g. of Z-ethylethylene imine. The mixture was kept at 60 for 2 hours and at roomtemperature "for 3 days. Petroleum ether was added to the mixture and the crystals filtered oii. After recrystallization fromrpetroleum'ether, the white crystals of'2-methyl- 5-ethyl-3-thiamorpholone had a melting point of 92-94".

EXAMPLE 17 2,2-dimethyl-5-efhy'l-3-thiamorpholone Twenty-one vg. of ethyl ot-mercaptoisobutyrate was mixed under cooling with 9.7 g. of 2-ethylethyleneimine. The mixture was kept for 2 hours at "60 and :for 3 days at room temperature. A small amount of crystals were obtained, which were filtered off. The filtrate was dis tilled in vacuo yielding 16 g. of a liquid boiling at l03116/ 0.5 mm., which solidified after being heatedat 180 for 6 hours. "Ligroin (B. P. 60 was added and the solids collected. After recrystallization of the combined solids from ligroin, the white crystals of 2,2- dimethyl-5-ethyl-3-thiamorpholone melted at 102403.

EXAMPLE 18 2,5-diethyl-3-thiam0rphdl0ne Twenty g. of ethyl mmercaptobutyrate was-mixed with 12g. of Z-ethylethylene imine under cooling. 'I hemixture was kept for 2 hours at 6.0" and for 3 days atroom temperature. On chilling, crystals were obtained, which were filtered off and washed with petroleum ether. After recrystallization from ligroin (B; P; 6090), the white crystals of 2,S-diethyh3 thiamorpholone melted at 8384.

Thirty-two g. of ethyl a-mercapto-a,a=diethylacetate was mixed under cooling with. 15 :g. of 2-ethylethyl'en'e imine. The mixture was kept for 2 hours at 60 and for 3 days at room temperature. Distillation in vacuo yielded a colorless liquid, boiling 'at- 'l'l6-'1.30 "/0.'4 111111;, whichiwas heated for 24 hours at 180 -200". Fractional distillation yielded a: liquid boiliug at '41'4'4/0;6 mm=.-, which solidified in the cold. The2,-2,5-tr-iethy1-:3-'thiamor- 7 pholone thus obtained was recrystallized from pentane and the white crystals then melted at 47-48".

EXAMPLE 20 2-pr0pyl-5-ethyl-3-thiamorphalone Twenty-two g. of ethyl a-mercaptovalerate and 11.6 g. of Z-ethylethylene imine were mixed under cooling. The mixture was kept for 2 hours at 60 and for 3 days at room temperature. Distillation in vacuo yielded a first fraction boiling at lll45/0.5 mm. and a second fraction boiling at 145l48/0.5 mm. The first fraction was heated for 7 hours at ISO-200 and redistilled, yielding a liquid which solidified in the cold. The second fraction solidified without further heating. After recrystallization of the combined solids from pentane, the white crystals of 2-propyl-5-ethyl-3-thiamorpholone thus obtained melted at 5l53.

EXAMPLE 2l 2,2-diethyl-4-methyI-3-th iamorpholone Thirty g. of ethyl a-mercapto-m,a-diethylacetate and 12 g. of N-methylethylene imine were mixed under cooling. The mixture was kept at 60 for 2 hours and at room temperature for 7 days. Fractional distillation in vacuo yielded a liquid boiling at 1l2l32/0.5 mm., which was heated at 190200 for 6 hours. Fractional distillation of the heated liquid gave 2,2-diethyl-4-methyl-3-thiamorpholone, a colorless liquid boiling at l09-1l0/0.6 mm.

EXAMPLE 22 2,2 -dl'meth yl-3 -thiamorph0l0ne Twelve g. of fi-mercaptoethylamine was dissolved in 150 cc. of dry dioxane. Sodium (3.5 g.) was added and the mixture refluxed overnight under nitrogen. Thirty g. of ethyl a-bromoisobutyrate, dissolved in 50 cc. of dioxane, was then added slowly and the mixture refluxed for 8 hours. After being kept at room temperature for 2 days, the sodium bromide was filtered ofi and the solvent removed in vacuo. The oily residue crystallized on chilling. Recrystallization from benzene-petroleum ether yielded 2,2-dimethyl-B-thiamorpholone, white crystals melting at l08109. The mixed melting point with a sample of 2,2-dimetl1yl-3-thiamorpholone obtained by condensation of ethylene imine with ethyl a-mercaptoisobutyrate (Example 2) showed no depression.

EXAMPLE 23 2is0pr0pyl-3-thiamorpholone Twelve g. of fl-mercaptoethylamine was dissolved in 150 cc. of dry dioxane. Sodium (3.5 g.) was added, and the mixture refluxed for 5 hours under nitrogen. To the suspension was then added 33 g. of ethyl a-bromoisovalerate, and the mixture refluxed overnight. After filtering off the sodium bromide, the solvent was removed in vacuo. The liquid residue was heated for 7 hours at l80200. Fractional distillation in vacuo yielded a colorless viscous liquid boiling at l30l39/0.5 mm., which crystallized in the cold. After recrystallization from petroleum ether, the white crystals of 2-isopr0pyl-3-thiamorpholone melted at 48-50".

EXAMPLE 24 2 ethyl-6-methyl-3-thiamorpholone Sodium (5.8 g.) was dissolved in 100 cc. of methanol. To this solution was added slowly and under cooling 37 g. of ethyl a-mercaptobutyrate in 50 cc. of methanol, followed by 37 g. of l-nitro-2-acetoxypropane in 50 cc. of methanol. The stirred reaction mixture was kept for 1 hour at -l.0 and was then allowed to reach room temperature. After standing overnight, the methanol was removed in vacuo. The residue was treated with water and ether, the two layers were separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted once more with ether. The combined ether extracts were washed with 5 per cent NaI-ICO:

solution and water, and dried over sodium sulfate. After removal of the ether, the residue was fractionated in vacuo. Ethyl a-(Z-nitroisopropylmercapto)butyrate was obtained as a colorless oil boiling at 127-l29/0.8 mm.

Sixty g. of iron filings were suspended in 300 cc. of water containing 6 cc. of glacial acetic acid. The mixture was refluxed for 1 hour. Forty-four g. of ethyl a-(2-nitroisopropylmercapto)butyrate, dissolved in 50 cc. of ethanol, was gradually added to the boiling reaction mixture, and the refluxing continued overnight. After cooling, the mixture was made alkaline with sodium carbonate and the iron filtered off. The aqueous filtrate was evaporated to dryness, and the residue was extracted three times with ethyl acetate. The combined extracts were dried over sodium sulfate. After removal of the solvent in vacuo, the rcdbrown oily residue was dissolved in ligroin (B. P. 6090). The turbid solution was treated with charcoal, filtered, and taken to dryness. The light-yellow residue which solidified partly, was diluted with petroleum ether, and the crystals that formed were collected. After recrystallization from petroleum ether, the white crystals of 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-thiamorpholone thus obtained melted at 73-74".

We claim:

1. A substituted 3-thiamorpholone wherein each substituent is selected from the class consisting of lower alkyl radicals, at least one lower alkyl radical being attached to the thiamorpholone nucleus in the 2-position.

. 2,2-diethyl-3-thiamorpholone.

. 2-propyl-3-thiamorpholone.

. 2-isopropyl-3-thiamorpholone.

. 2,2-diethyl-5-methyl-3-thiamorpholone.

. 2,2,5-triethyl-3-thiamorpholone.

A process of making a substituted S-thiamorpholone having the formula wherein R1 represents a lower alkyl radical, and each of R2 to R1, inclusive, represents a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl radicals which comprises condensing an alkali metal salt of a fi-mercapto-alkyl amine having the formula R1 SM wherein R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 have the same meaning indicated above, and M represents an alkali metal with an ester of an a-haloalkanoic acid having the formula halogen References Cited in the file of this patent Bestian et al.: Ann. (1950), vol. 566, pp. 210-44 (also in Chem. Abst., 1950, vol. 44, pp. 5805-7). 

1. A SUBSTITUTED 3-THIAMORPHOLONE WHEREIN EACH SUBSTITUENT IS SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF LOWER ALKYL RADICALS, AT LEAST ONE LOWER ALKYL RADICAL BEING ATTACHED TO THE THIAMORPHOLONE NUCLEUS IN THE 2-POSITION.
 7. A PROCESS OF MAKING A SUBSTITUTED 3-THIAMORPHOLONE HAVING THE FORMULA 